Journal wiper



W. M. GEWIN JOURNAL WIPER April 17, 1951 Filed Dec. 17, 1945 fr *viw 7,2

Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOURNAL WIPER William M. Gewin, Dupo, Ill. Application December 17, 1945, Serial No. 635,478

13 Claims.

This invention relates to journal wipers,` and concerns itself more particularly with journal wipers adaptable for use in the journal boxes of railway rolling stock.

In the construction of railway cars, it is standard practice to extend the wheel axis into journal boxes in which the ends thereof, shaped in the form of journals, are enclosed. The journal box forms a housing for the journal and the bearing plate through which the weight of the car is transmitted to the axle. The lower part of this box provides a well in which lubricants are contained and in which waste material is inserted as a wick for carrying oil from the well to the undersurface of the journal. Due to the construction of these boxes, it is impossible to keep them free from dirt, grit, and other foreign bodies which enter into the oil and are carried up and in between the journal and its bearing. The journals are thus inherently subject to bearing failures due to the abrasive effects of such foreign material. They are also subject to a condition known to the railroad art as waste grab, which is caused by the journals carrying the waste from the bottomof the box up to and in between the journal and the bearing. In this restricted position, the oil is soon worn from the waste, and the latter forms a hard carbon-like deposit on the bearing surface which ultimately results in a bearing failure. Both of these conditions prevent proper lubrication of the cars journals, and cause hot boxes.

It is known that many Waste-retaining devices and journal wipers have been proposed to overcome the aforesaid diiculties, but, for the most part, they have had limited success due to the fact that their installation is complex and requires some operation upon the journal, waste or the device itself for their mounting.

The present invention is a wiper which sacrices none of its quality performance in preventing grit and waste from reaching the journal bearing at the expense of being readily mountable. On the contrary, the location of the blades of this wiper insures adequate protection for and the proper lubrication of the bearing, and its simplicity of construction makes it possible to install the same on any standard journal against accidental removal or displacement by simply opening the journal box lid and slipping the wiper into position on the journal.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel journal wiper which is positive in action, and which may be readily and easily installed on and removed from a journal.

Another object is to provide a novel journal wiper which is adapted to maintain its wiping', position against the journal and which will not slip between the brass and the journal even when the journal and the brass are subjected to severe shock causing momentary separation of the brass from the journal.

Another object is to provide a novel journal wiper with removable wiping blades which cannot become disengaged from their supports while in service.

Another object is to provide a novel journal wiper which can be installed in wiping position on a journal and removed therefrom without the use of special or ordinary tools or equipment.

Another object is to provide a novel journal wiper of rugged,` resilient construction which is adapted to function in wiping relation with a journal under manifold service conditions and which is of economical construction.

The foregoing, and other objects and advan-g tages are apparent from the followingdescrip-V tion taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1Y is a front elevational View of a preferred construction of one of the wiper blades of l a journal wiper made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-,3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a preferred support construction for the present journal Wiper, parts being broken away and parts being in section for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the support con struction shown in Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of the support construction shown in Fig. 4, one part being shown in partial section for clarity of illustration;

Fig. '7 is a section on a line 'I--l of Figs. 4 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a journal and bearing brass with the support construction and wiper blades, shown in operation in Figs'. 'li through 7, in assembled relation and operatively disposed relative thereto;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the present jo'urnal'wiper mounted on a journal and bearing brass; and

Fig. 10 is a section on the line lll-l 0 of Fig. 8, the lower portion of the journal being broken away for conservation of space.

Broadly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a support construction-generally designated 20 (Figs. 4 through 7), and wiping blades, one of which is illustrated in Figs. l through 3, generally designated 22. In Figs. 8 through 10, the assembled journal wiper 24 is shown operatively mounted in respect to a journal 26 and a journal bearing brass 28.

The support construction 26 includes members 30 and 32, which are of the congurations shown in the drawing and which are Aformed from steel rods permitting resiliency in the free ends. The member 30 includes a front Ushaped portion 34, an upper arm 36, and a lower arm 38. The arm 36- is shaped to pass around the outer flange of a journal and to extend over the top of the -extended projection of a journal brass. The end f the arm 38 is turned inwardly (Fig. 4) 'and is flattened to provide a tip 46 Mgr-eater width'than the diameter of the metal forming the arm 38. The arms 36 and 38 are each turned at an interior angle of less than 90 to the portion 34 (Fig. 4). The member '.32 vincludes the same elements as `the member 3D, differing therefrom only in that the U-shaped portion 34 :is of greater length, Yas iis obvious `from Fig. 6.

A plate 42 engagesthe U-shapedportionf34 of the member `3|! through turned-over portions 4'4 which surround the legs of the .U-shaped portion 34. The plate 42 extends longitudinally from the bight rofthe `U-shapediportion 34 of 'the member 30 andcarries at 'the free end a threaded stud or bolt 46 which is disposed midway between right angularly turned, opposed flange segments 48. A member 50, having an arcuate engaging surface 52, is threaded on the stud `46 and abuts va nut 54, `or the like. Nearthe bightof 'thezU portion 34 of the vmember `,30, the plate 42 has a. portionfstruck out'to `form a hook 56. When the y support construction is in assembled relation, the bi-ght of the U-shaped portion 34 of the member 32 engages the hook 56, the .legs of 'said U-shaped portion 34 being engaged by the 'arcuate suiface 52 of the member 50.

'The wiping `blade 22 comprises an elongated member, preferably of thin brass sheet metal,.and includes an elongated body portion^60, a blade 62 turned :at an angle to the body portion V60 as shown, right angular ilange segments 64, '66 and 68 having re-turned portions "Ill, 12 and 74, respectively, which are curved `on a radius substantially equal to the radius of the journal '26 and space the upper part of the body 'portion '60 from the journal 26- bearing thereagainst, and right angular flange segments 'I6 and 'I8 .disposed at 180 to the ilange segments 6'4, 66 yand 68. There Iis substantially centrally of the body portion 60, a keyhole or aperture 80, the greater diameter'of vwhich is vertically disposed.

In mounting the present journal wiper 24 in operative position in ya journal box, one wiper blade 22 is mounted on the arm 36 of the l.member 30 with the tip 46 disposed 'through the hole 180. Manifestly, mounting is effected through holding the wiping blade -22 vertically, sliding the tip 40 through the hole 80 and rotating the blade to a horizontal position. The journal box door.A `is opened and the blade 122." on the arm '38 of the member 30 is slipped alongsidethe'journal'26 with the :flange segments 64, 66, 6B, T6 Iand 'I8 resting against the lower 'face of .the projections ofthe brass 28, as is clearly shown in Figs. 9 and l0. It is to be observed that the ,depth ofthe .body portion of the wiping blade .22 is sufficiently shallow so that the blade `62 doesV not extend `below the horizontal .diameterA ofthe journal 26 (Fig. `10). The endof the arm 36 is disposed over .the outer projection of the brass 28, as shown. The second .4 wiping blade 22 is mounted on the end of the arm 38 of the member 32 in the same manner as aforesaid, which is slipped along the other side of the journal bearing 26 in opposed relation to the rst wiping blade 22. The bight of the U-shaped portion 34 of the member 32 is slipped over the hook 56, and the legs of said U-shaped portion are disposed about the stud 46. The arcuate member 56 is turned to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 to securely anchor the member 32 in operative relation to the member 30 and the journal wiper 24 on the journal. To remove the journal wiper 24, itis' but necessary to reverse the procedure just set forth. Since the oily waste in the journal box vcomes to just short of the horizontal diameter of the journal 26, the blades 22 cannot be rotated during use to removal position.

With't'he journal wiper 24 operatively mounted, as just described, it is manifest that the blades 62 of thewiping blades 22 are 4in spring-pressed engagementwith'the journal 26 at all times, for the relationship of the arms 38 is such that the AWiping blades 22 are urged at all times by the resiliency of the arms .36 toward the journal 26, the distance between wiping blades 22 unmounted on a journal being Yless than the diameter of the journal 25. The edges of the metal blades 62 constantly engage the journal 26 to prevent any waste, dirt, raveling, grit, andthe like, from passing'from the journal box to aportion beneath the brass 28. Since the supporting and positioning arms 36 also possess resiliency, the arms 36 and '38 of members 36 and 32 maybe widely separated vertically without any danger of dislodging Athe arms 36 or removing .the wiping vblades 1-22 `from engagement with the journal 26. In View ofthe ange segments 16 and 18 on each of the wiping blades 22, there is no danger of the wiping blade 22 moving between the bearing brass 28r and the journal 26 during a separation of the brass -28 and the journal 26, occasioned by any .severe shock to the journal box, the flange segments 'F6 and 'I8 being of suiiicient 'width to allow for all known separations. A width of three-eighths of an inch for the flange segments 'I6 and 18 has been found to vbe adequate when used in conjunction with flange segments 64, 66 and 68 of a like width. yIn fact, the resiliency of the arms 36 and 38 and the inertia of the blade 22 permits the blade 22 to remain in normal wiping relation during brass separations, such separations being quite fast.

The application of the journal wiper 24 to a journal bearing and its removal therefrom, as described, are accomplished without the use of any tool or special instrument. This is a particularly advantageous feature since special tools are likely vto be lost, and often one called upon to replace a wiper blade 22 would be without standard tools. The member 50, with its arcuate engaging surface 52, is rotated by hand and firmly maintains the parts in position against accidental removal. It is to be noted that the arcuate portion 52 gives a locking effect when moved from ahorizontal position across the legs of the U-shaped portion '34 of the member 32 into vertical position and, hence, cannot accidentally unscrew as would be the case were a standard bolt construction employed. Hence, the journal wiper 24 is easily and rmly operatively disposed on a journal. It must be borne in mind that such ease of installation and removal is essential for a successful journal wiper since the clearance .between the vertical walls of a standard journal box and the journal is quite small.

, l It is clear, from the foregoing description taken with the drawing, that the objects and advantages sought for the present invention have been accomplished.

It is appreciated lthat modifications of the embodiment disclosed as the preferred form may be made by those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the inven-v tion, and it is intendedrthat the present invention be limited only by the claims which follow.

Wha-t is claimed is: l

1. A journal wiper comprising wiper blades and a support for said wiper blades, and means pivotally connecting said wiper blades to said support for ready removal, said vwiper blades being vmaintained by said connecting means on said support against removal when in one position relative thereto and being readily removable from said support when disposed at a Iposition substantially 90 to the aforesaid position, said wiper blade connecting means including a keyhole slot in each of the wiper blades and a complementary receiving member for each slot as part of said support. Y Y

2. A journal wiper blade comprising an elongated body portion, a blade portion, said blade portion being adjacent one longitudinal edge of said body portion, flange segments connected to the other longitudinal edge of said body portion and extending at an angle thereto, and additional iiange segments connected to said other longitudinal edge of the body portion and extending from the body portion in an opposite direction to said iirst-named flange segments.

3. A journal wiper blade comprising an elongated body portion, a blade portion, said blade portion being adjacent yone longitudinal edge of said body portion, flange segments connected to the other longitudinal edge of said body portion and extending at an angle thereto, additional flange segments connected to said other longitudinal edge of the body portion and extending from the body portion in an opposite direction to said first-named flange segments, and an aperture in said body portion having a vertical diameter greater than the horizontal diameter and adapted to receive a supporting member.

4. A journal wiper comprising wiper blades and a support therefor, said support comprising two similar members and a connecting member, each of said similar members including a U- shaped portion, said U-shaped portions being disposed in a common plane with the legs thereof oppositely directed when said similar members are operatively disposed in respect to each other, said connecting member including means connecting it to each of said similar members and thereby connecting said similar members to each other.

5. A journal wiper comprising wiper blades and a support therefor, said support comprising two similar members and a connecting member, each of said members including a U-shaped portion, said U-shaped portions being disposed in a common plane with the legs thereof oppositely directed when said similar members are operatively disposed in respect to each other, said connecting member including means connecting it to each of said similar members and Ythereby connecting said similar members to each other, said means connecting said connecting member to one of said similar members being readily manipulated to detach the similar member from the connecting member and thereby to permit 6 dismounting of thejournal wiper from yan associated journal.

6. A journal wiper comprising wiper blades and a support therefor, said support comprising two similar members and a connecting member, each of said similar members including a, U-shaped portion, said U-shaped portions being disposed in va common plane with the legs thereof oppositely directed when said similar members are operatively connected by said connecting member, and means connecting said connecting member to said similar members including a locking member engaging the legs of the U-shaped portion of one of said similar members whereby said support is adapted to be operatively assembled without the use of tools.

7. A journal wiper comprising wiper blades and a support therefor, said support comprising two similar members and a connecting member, each of said similar members including a U-shaped portion, said U-shaped portions being disposed in a common plane with the legs thereof oppositely directed when said similar members are operatively disposed in respect to each other, said connecting member including means connecting it to each of said similar members and thereby connecting said similar members to each other, the means connecting said connecting member with one of said similar members including a locking member adapted to maintain said connecting member and similar member in secure relation when in one position and adapted to permit separation of said connecting member and said similar member when in another position.

8. A journal wiper comprising wiper 4blades and a support for said wiper blades, said support being adapted to maintain said Wiper blades in operative relation with a journal, said support comprising two members detachably connected together when operatively associated with each other, each of said support members including a spring arm resiliently supporting a wiper blade and adapted to maintain the blade in continuous contact with an associated journal, each of said support members also including a second spring arm adapted to engage over a standard abutment of a journal bearing brass.

9. A journal Wiper comprising wiper blades and a support for said wiper blades, said support being adapted to maintain said wiper blades in operative wiping relation with a journal, said support including two pairs of spring arms, each of saidpairs of spring arms being adapted to extend along one side of a journal, one spring arm of each pair resiliently supporting one of said wiper blades, the other of said resilient arms of each pair being adapted to engage over a standard abutment of a journal bearing brass, the spring arms of each pair permitting vertical separation therebetween to allow for jar separa-Y tion of thebearing brass and the journal with which they are associated.

10. A journal wiper comprising wiper blades and a support for said wiper blades, each of said wiper blades including a bearing flange along a top edge thereof, said bearing flanges terminating in journal engaging return portions, each of said wiper blades also including a second flange along said top edge adapted to prevent entry of the bladebetween a jar separated bearing brass and journal when operatively disposed in wiping relation on a journal.

11. A journal wiper comprising wiper blades and a support for said wiper blades, each of said Wiper blades including an elongated body por- 7 tion, a blade' portion, said blade portion being adjacent one longitudinal edge of said body por tion, .flange segments connected to the other longitudinal edge of said body portion yand extending at an angle thereto, and additional flange segments connected to said `other longitudinal edge of the body portion and extending from the body portion in an opposite direction to said rst-named ange segments.

12. A journal wiper comprising wiper blades, a support for said wiper blades, and means pivotally connecting said wiper blades to said support, said support being adapted to maintainsaid wiper blades in operative relation with a journal, said support comprising two members detachably connected together when operatively associated With each other, each of said support members including a spring arm resiliently supporting a wiper blade and adapted to maintain the blade in continuous Contact with lan associated journal, each of said support members also inclduing a second spring arm adapted to engage over a standard abutment of a journal bearing brass.

13. A journal wiper comprising Wiper blades, a support for said wiper blades, and means pivotally connecting said wiper blades to said support, said support being adapted to maintain said Wiper blades .in operative wiping relation with .a journal, Vsaid support including two pairs of spring arms, each of said pairs lof spring arms being adapted to extend along one -side of a journal, one spring arm of each pair resiliently supporting -one of said Wiper blades, the other of said-resilient arms of each pair being adapted to engage over a standard abutment of a journal bearing brass, the spring arms of each pair permitting Verticalseparation therebetween to allow for jar separation of the bearing brass and the journal with which they are associated.

WILLIAM M. GEWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The lfollowing references are of record in the iile vof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

